Deb Brody, v-p and editorial director of Harvest, an imprint from HarperCollins (following its acquisition of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s trade division), knows how transformative books can be. Whether it’s the perfect recipe from a renowned chef or a guidebook for navigating trauma, Harvest is all about providing edifying and inspiring content presented in beautifully designed volumes. Harvest builds on an already rich legacy with books from famed authors and personalities including Jacques Pépin, Martha Stewart, Dorie Greenspan, and Pati Jinich. Harvest is also introducing fresh voices, ideas, and stories from a new generation of authors, chefs, and health and wellness experts.

Brody spoke with PW about Harvest’s broad-ranging line of books, what sets their titles apart, and the imprint’s aspirations for the future.

What can you share about Harvest’s mission?

We believe in the inspiring power of books to change readers’ lives and we aim to publish diverse authors and perspectives that make life a little bit better for our readers. This encompasses anything and everything from mastering the perfect chocolate cake recipe to being a more effective parent to cleaning your home.

What shared qualities go into Harvest titles?

No matter the category, we seek authors who have deep expertise in their field and bring a fresh perspective to the subject. We want books that address what’s happening in the world right now and that will also stand the test of time, as backlist is a key component of our publishing strategy. We care deeply about the packaging of our books, and work closely with our design teams to make sure that our titles stand out wherever they are—on a table in stores, as a thumbnail online, and, ultimately, on someone’s coffee table or bookshelf at home. We want our cookbooks to be as beautiful to look at as they are exciting to cook from.

Which books do you feel should particularly be on readers’ radars?

A few highlights coming in 2023:

  • Did You Eat Yet by Ronnie Woo—a cookbook of 100 all-American Asian-inspired recipes from the chef and television personality.
  • The Unexpected Gift of Trauma by Dr. Edith Shiro—a timely and groundbreaking book that offers readers a five-stage framework for achieving post-traumatic growth.
  • The Met Flex Diet by Dr. Ian K. Smith—the #1 New York Times bestselling author shares a plan for weight loss and wellness based on the science of metabolic flexibility.
  • For the Culture by Klancy Miller—an anthology of the leading Black women and femmes shaping today’s food and hospitality landscape.
  • Danni’s Juke Joint Comfort Food by Danni Rose—bold and irresistible Southern-inspired home cooking from the YouTube star.
  • I Could Nosh by Jake Cohen—the much-anticipated new cookbook from the New York Times bestselling author of Jew-ish, an inspired collection of recipes melding traditional Jewish flavors and modern influences.
  • Scheck Eats by Jeremy Scheck—easy and delicious recipes plus expert tips from the next-gen culinary phenom and TikTok superstar.
  • Priya’s Kitchen Adventures by Priya Krishna—from New York Times contributor and bestselling author of Indian-ish, a cookbook for kids with fun and delicious recipes inspired by the author’s childhood travels.

Can you talk about how you’re bringing new voices to the cooking, wellness, health, self-help, and parenting spaces?

We pay close attention to digital creators and influencers, and we’ve acquired several titles in this space. Executive editor Sarah Pelz was a fan of the hit podcast Maintenance Phase, which debunks the junk science behind many health and wellness fads, and was able to sign a book based on the podcast by reaching out to author Aubrey Gordon directly. We also work closely with our data-driven marketing and sales teams to identify trends and get to market quickly. Pickleball Is Life, published last month, is one example of that, as well as The Unofficial Ted Lasso Cookbook, coming this fall. From podcasts to YouTube to TikTok, we’re figuring out what kind of content translates from the digital space to a printed book, and the whole team has a real entrepreneurial spirit.

Harvest titles also feature a lot of familiar names and faces. Can you brag a little about some of the luminaries readers can expect to see?

We are proud, via the legacy of HMH, to be the longtime publishers of luminaries including Jacques Pépin, Mark Bittman, Martha Stewart, and Sara Gottfried, and have new titles coming from each of them. Jacques discovered social media in his 80s and has captured the attention of a whole new generation. He’s worked closely with his editor, Sarah Kwak, and the whole Harvest team to give his books a fresh new look, and sales of his books are stronger than ever.

What can you share about your approaches to marketing and publicity?

The publicity and marketing teams at Harvest are widely recognized for their dedication to our books and authors. Our marketing team takes a data-driven deep dive into an author's existing and/or opportunity audiences to identify campaign tentpoles including potential partnerships, media outlets, advertising targets, or influencers. The Harvest publicity team brings energy, creativity, and expertise to every campaign, creating bespoke launches for each title, including coverage in traditional media outlets as well as in the digital space, and focusing on authentic and effective messaging to reach readers across the country.

How are you working to engage readers across multiple generations?

While the publishing industry has historically promoted books in traditional ways, Harvest's focus on online and data-driven marketing helps us reach a large market of readers who are not yet fully engaged in reading and buying books as part of their everyday lives. We're using and testing social media platforms in all our campaigns, with the latest online marketing strategies to reach those new readers. For example, we love to partner with influencers and celebrities who have a large and diverse following to promote books on their platforms and engage different opportunity audiences who maybe aren't traditional book buyers.

For someone who might have a tiny pie obsession, any recommendations?

The Book on Pie by Erin McDowell absolutely delivers on its subtitle: Everything You Need to Know to Bake Perfect Pies. After years of struggling with pie dough, I’ve mastered Erin’s perfectly flaky pie crust and I’ll never try another recipe.